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While I am not intending to take over as the commish of this league, 90sbaby has asked that I help out when I can, mostly in a behind the scenes manner in order to keep this league running. I apologize if this ends up being a long winded post, but I think a lot needs to be addressed in order to save this league (if that is manageable).

For starters, we need to figure out how many known openings we have for 2018. Voltaire is out, GoColts is out. OldMaid was on the verge of leaving prior to this year so i'm not sure what her current situation is. Her team seemed to be active so maybe this is a sign she is staying on board. MTSki sounds like he is willing to stay but won't sweat it if the league doesn't happen......

..... i'm going to tentatively say we have 2 open teams (possibly a 3rd if this was OM's swan song)

The Next order of business is to guage the leagues feelings toward moving to a paid league rather than a free league with the idea that people care more / invest a little more time / don't vanish / etc.. etc.. when $$ is on the line. This was NOT my idea, so don't shoot the messenger. I am a gambler and an FF addict so I am not opposed to making this a small buy-in league but I do realize that for many of us, the allure of the CCDL may have been the free aspect of it. A chance to try a dynasty format, or sharpen your dynasty skills in a free, no stress environment and having to "buy in", expecially if you recently took over a team that needs work, may cause you to say no thanks......

....... I tossed around the idea of suggesting a small fee league that starts from scratch with a fresh dynasty draft for 2018 including all players (rookies as well) but this may not be fair to some teams who have put a lot of work into building a current title contender.

....... additionally, if the idea of a paid league in any format (keeping current teams or starting from scratch) would result in the loss of any active owners, I think it's a no-go. With the possibility that we are only losing 2 members, it does not seem like drastic changes are needed and I realize that moving from free to even a small buy in (say $25) can be drastic for some.

**** PLEASE **** chime in with your thoughts on going to a pay league versus keeping it free, the idea of a fresh reboot and everything mentioned above. Your input will be invaluable in determining where we need to take this league to ensure maximum competitiveness and fun.

Most importantly, If we make no other changes, this league needs to button down the hatches, so to speak. I mean no offense to Voltaire, but I think he fell short as a commissioner. Perhaps he just didn't have the time (I know I don't), or perhaps it was just his way of running things but this league has been all over the map in terms of following the written by-laws and making up rules on the fly.....

...... that changes in 2018. There will be hard deadlines for getting players off Injured reserve, making roster cuts, the start of the rookie draft and clarity on the use of Injured Reserve prior to and during the rookie draft (hint: it's not allowed). It's going to be up to 90'sbaby, though I will keep my eye on it as well, to make sure that rosters are not in violation and deadlines are met in a timely fashion.

Less important will be a decluttering of the League homepage. I know it is customizeable by each individual owner but I have a feeling the default home page has every focking metric under the sun and its really just clunky and awkward looking.........

....... I will again leave this up to 90sbaby, if he can get the homepage simplified so that we are seeing the masthead, chat box, standings, recent transactions, message board topics, franchise owner activity (i.e. how many days since last visit), monthly calendar and the plaque with the league champion names. Anything else is trivial and can be added on an individual owner basis or simply searched for if you really want to know (things like power ranking, historical top scores, survival pool, confidence pool ... no ones gives a crap about those... games of the week, records, trophy case, waiver wire order etc etc etc)

If we decide to keep things as they are, a free league with a better following of league rules and a better, less chaotic experience for everyone, then I think the best plan of attack for finding two new owners is to have them conduct a 2 man draft from the rosters and draft picks of the two abandonded teams (Maltese Falcons and Cannibal Holocaust). Snake draft.

The rules haven't been all over the map. Not much. Two things I know, I invariably let the draft start early but didn't this year not due to getting a late start to fill the league and then Hurricane reasons. Also, some years I forget to announce the trade deadline and so give it an extra week when nothing invariably happens anyway except one year when a trade did occur which missed the deadline.

More specifically, and maybe this is what gets WW riled up, but the IR rules prior to the draft were always followed consistently. The rules we used this year, followed the precedent from the season before last when Kelvin Benjamin was injured in the preseason and placed on IR. The Benjamin owner had asked if he could place Benjamin on IR before the draft. I knew that it had never been addressed and so said 'go ahead.' Granted it was a judgement call at the time which sparked no leaguewide discussion.

When we voted to include IR, the related topic for how IR would affect players injured pre-draft had never been an issue brought up. When we did it with Benjamin, it went unnoticed but gained more attention this this year since it affected 3-4 players. WW didn't like how i'd done it, so I put it up to a vote. Three agreed with how I did it, three disagreed, one abstained, and six didn't vote. So 4-3-1-6.

And the other thing, granted I don't have a say in what happens to the team after I'm gone but I'd really hope that my roster isn't merged with GoColts and the players redistributed. We didn't even do that when Sux left his toxic ball of cat hair behind for southcaroilina to clean up. I already find the concept offensive when it's done to other people's teams and even more so when done to mine.

The edited in third is I know WW and I have had our differences but I am glad that he's stepping up anyway.

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I'm still in, and I would prefer to keep it a free league, as that's what drew me to it in the first place. I would also like to keep the team I have, but if the decision is to get a fresh start I wouldn't complain since I'm only one draft in.

Regarding the open teams, I think we should first start looking for people to take over the teams as they are (gocolts team is not total garbage, someone will make the effort) before resorting to a 2-person draft.

Thanks WW and 90s for handling this!

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Me personally as you know I think it should move to a paid league. Even if it is $10 per entry. Just something. Most people here are in 6 other leagues. I am in 1 and I know I lose interest simply because there is nothing on the line.

As far as rosters go, I don't think they should be a completely reset but I also don't think we should just cut rosters to 22 this offseason. I think maybe for one season trim the rosters down to 16-12 players to make it more interesting for new owners to come in but then the following season go back to the rules we have been using the past few seasons.

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Any changes to cut downs, I think would only happen if we go to a paid league. I sense most people would not want a fresh restart (I know I like the team I've built)... I was just trying to lay out all possible avenues.

Right now it seems like we keep things as they are and continue to discuss making it a small (maybe 20 dollar) entry with small prizes.

We should begin to work on finding two new owners.

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Any changes to cut downs, I think would only happen if we go to a paid league. I sense most people would not want a fresh restart (I know I like the team I've built)... I was just trying to lay out all possible avenues.

Right now it seems like we keep things as they are and continue to discuss making it a small (maybe 20 dollar) entry with small prizes.

We should begin to work on finding two new owners.

I've been building this post for 3 seasons now after I did a mass trade off when I first joined and I am just not getting competitive. I don't really want to cut the rosters either.

$20 sounds good to me.

Maybe you could add a poll to this thread and have a vote on paid/free and finally put this to bed once and for all.

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1) Im going to miss you Volty! Ive enjoyed the many debates and discussions that have gone on as a part of this league. Youve always been an upstanding dude. I get it though. Its been a difficult year for me on a personal level, also, and Ive lost a lot interest in football in general and fantasy football specifically. Im also growing weary.

2) Im strongly against rebooting the teams, and dont even like the idea of cutting deep into the rosters. Ive built this team from the ground up to where its at now, and Im very happy with what I have. I have to fill a couple of more holes, but those only really become an issue in years like this where Ive also fought some injury issues. The injury bug is hard to overcome in most fantasy situations, but I think Ive weathered it pretty well. Ive done 90% of my work in the draft, and I think my team is set to be a front runner for several years. I dont want to start over. If the choice is to start over, then I will respect that decision and bow out, and someone else can take my spot.

3) I much prefer this as a free league, but Im not opposed to a small buy-in. I dont want a $50-100+ buy-in. Thats not why I got into this league and not what keeps me coming back.

Im a plank owner in this league, and will be back next season provided there arent a bunch of wholesale changes made. Overall I like this league the way it is. Its different than my other leagues, and those different challenges are what I like.

Just make sure someone polishes up that trophy for me this year, b!tches!!

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I believe this is my 4th year in this league and haven't been very vocal. Since this topic could potentially change the league drastically, I figured I should chime in.

1. I would prefer a free league. I'm a naturally competitive person so money wouldn't motivate me anymore than i already am. I prefer the league the way it is now but If we did change to a pay league, I would want a full reboot of the league.

2. It seems like we add new teams every year. Maybe it's time to consider changing to a 12 team league. Just fold in the players of the two teams leaving to next years draft.

3. As for buttoning down the rules (i.e. IR), i've never really cared because it is a free league, but if we change to a paid league, I would care about making sure the rules are properly followed.

One thing to consider: A strong league is filled with strong, committed, active owners. I think this league was born from and is mostly populated by posters from the Geek Club. It also seemed to me that last year you guys had trouble finding people to fill vacant teams. Otherwise you wouldnt probably have considered a guy like me with literally 0 posts. Maybe there arent any more viable willing owners in that Geek Club pool. Maybe its time to introduce some Dynasty-savvy outside blood. I'm in seven other Dynasty leagues, and I'm sure some of you guys must be in other leagues as well. Rather than just filling our two vacant teams with whichever two GC members get there first, maybe we should try to find some owners who have some Dynasty experience, even if it means searching outside of FFToday. Just a thought.

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The edited in third is I know WW and I have had our differences but I am glad that he's stepping up anyway.

In don't think we've ever really had differences, Volty. I have always been appreciative of you starting this league and getting me into it when that guy bailed right after the startup draft. I've had a blast taking what he drafted and turning it into a really strong team that probably should have more than 1 title.

I just happen to be very opinionated on all things sports / fantasy sports and I guess its a pet peeve of mine when things happen like drafts kicking off when they are not supposed to and people getting picks they didn't want as a result of timeouts. (this happened more than once. possibly 3 different years that we needed to reset the draft if my memory serves me). I was never directly impacted but i'm the type of person that wants everyone to have a really enjoyable experience.

.... and i'm sure everyone has.... but for me, making sure house keeping things like that are in order is important.

trust me. I wish you were still in the league and running things.

1

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One thing to consider: A strong league is filled with strong, committed, active owners. I think this league was born from and is mostly populated by posters from the Geek Club. It also seemed to me that last year you guys had trouble finding people to fill vacant teams. Otherwise you wouldnt probably have considered a guy like me with literally 0 posts. Maybe there arent any more viable willing owners in that Geek Club pool. Maybe its time to introduce some Dynasty-savvy outside blood. I'm in seven other Dynasty leagues, and I'm sure some of you guys must be in other leagues as well. Rather than just filling our two vacant teams with whichever two GC members get there first, maybe we should try to find some owners who have some Dynasty experience, even if it means searching outside of FFToday. Just a thought.

thanks for chming in, Monkeys.

I was actually going to make a post suggesting that if anyone had someone they were close with from other leagues, that this might be a route to go.

I would, however, first like to vette any FFToday members who might be interested since this is an FFToday born league..... but I don't want to take any old FFToday poster just to keep things "in-house" so if there does not appear to be any solid FFToday/Geek club candidates then I would absolutely turn it over to outside owners that can be vouched for by current league members.

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This league without Volty just wont be the same and he will be greatly missed. GoColts, too. It will seem weird being in a league with a bunch of people I dont know. Good thing WW is still here (because I enjoy the friendly teasing we give each other) or Id definitely be out. I would also hate to leave you guys searching for a 3rd owner. That would suck big donkey balls.

Now...

Im going to be the unpopular voice. Id love it if we did a complete redraft. Ive always hated the team I got, and truthfully, Im naturally a competitive person, but its hard when Ive never really felt this team was mine. I realize thats partly my fault. Im new to dynasty, and Ive made a few mistakes, and now Ive been hesitant to make more. Add to it that I was crazy busy for the beginning of this season, and then just never got in the spirit, this year.

Oh... and did a mention how much I hate the MFL site?!?!?!

So, I guess what Im trying to say: If you guys need me to stay, I will. Or if you want to replace me, Im cool with that too. If I do end up staying on, I will try to be a better owner, next year, though. It also wouldnt hurt if I had a whole new team I hand picked myself.

Rats ass if the league stays free or not.

Oh, and one last thing. I like the suggestion of turning this into a 12 team league. So count me down as a vote for that.

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Good thing WW is still here (because I enjoy the friendly teasing we give each other)

you just enjoy the regular spankings

seriously though thanks for weighing in. I don't think there will end up being enough traction for a complete reboot and redraft, but reducing to 12 teams may be something we can consider with those two rosters going into the player pool for next years draft.

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seriously though thanks for weighing in. I don't think there will end up being enough traction for a complete reboot and redraft, but reducing to 12 teams may be something we can consider with those two rosters going into the player pool for next years draft.

If we did contract to 12 teams, would expanding rosters be something anyone would be interested in? Contracting to 12 teams and increasing roster sizes might be the best of two worlds. I will allow those of us who dont want to redraft the entire league to keep our teams intact, but would give those owners who do want to redraft an opportunity to do kind of a "mini- start up draft". Like I said upthread I'm in 7 other Dynasty leagues and the league with the next smallest roster size is 30 players. 22 roster slots is just really tiny for Dynasty IMO. It allows almost no room for developmental guys, I did a quick count and IMO there are easily 30 guys on the two rosters that would be contracted that IMO should be rostered in a 12 team league. Add that to the incoming rookies and thats a huge talent influx.

Some things that we might want to consider:

1) Mild: Contract to 12 teams and bump rosters up to 25. That would give each owner 3 extra roster spaces. For 1 year only, bump the rookie/FA draft up to 8 rounds (5 normal draft picks plus three to fill the extra roster spaces). Such a large talent pool must be drafted, not distributed via the WW afterwards.

2) Medium:: Everything in #1 AND eliminate kickers. I used to be steadfastly in favor of kickers, but after playing in a couple of leagues that dont use them, I am a zealous convert. Kickers add nothing but headaches and in those leagues i dont miss them a bit. This would give everyone 4 extra roster spaces (Rookie/FA draft would need to be 9 rounds).

3) Hot:Everything in #1 and #2 plus eliminating DST's: What i said about kickers in #2 i could say about DSTs as well. A couple of my other leagues dont use them, and its very freeing. This would give everyone 5 extra roster spaces. (Rookie/FA draft would need to be 10 rounds)

4) Ghost pepper infused insanity: Everything in #1 thru #3 plus we add in IDP's. Im playing in my first season in a league with IDP's and its pretty fun. Not for everyone, but im enjoying it. You'd have to open up rosters and the draft even more. Maybe a lot to do all at once, but damn it would be pretty awesomely chaotic.

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1. If we did contract to 12 teams, I would assume we would increase roster size.

2. no. Kickers are part of FF and there is strategy behind kicker play

3. no. Same goes for defenses.

4. HELL no. Sorry but IDP leagues are garbage. If you think kickers and DSTs are random, try playing an IDP dynasty. the randomness of defensive lineman scoring is so silly and all IDP ends up being is an exercise in grabbing safeties and middle linebackers off waivers.

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I'm going to throw up a few polls on things that I think are worth voting on.

keeping 14 teams and looking for 2 new owners versus going to 12 teams an expanding rosters to the 25-30 range.

staying free or going to a $20 buy in.

I went ahead and voted in the poll, but it prolly wasn't necessary. With these two topics, I'm game either way. I like the idea of 14 teams...it just changes the strategy and flow of things compared to 12 teams, but it really doesn't matter to me either way. As for the money, although I mentioned earlier being opposed to a buy-in, $20 is low enough that I don't care either way. It's never really been about the money for me, I just play in enough money leagues that I really don't want another, but $20 is throwaway money, so who cares....

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The league will definitely remain free by overwhelming majority of votes.

12 or 14 trams is still up for debate. The voting is slightly in favor of downsizing to 12 teams.

Edit: actually all 12 current owners have voted (assuming no aliases ) and it's 7-5 in favor of going to 12 teams. That's really close thPugh and I'd like to hear any more opinions on why 14 is better before I make a final call or attempt to even look for 2 more owners.

We already more or less decided that 2 random owners for the sake of 14 is not the way to go. Has to be 2 long time FFT people who will be solid

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I am NOT taking over as commish. When Voltaire announced he was stepping down, IAm90sBaby announced he was going to step up. He private messaged me asking if I would help. I am more than willing to help (he gave me commish access) and sort of be a consultant in a sense but I have no intentions of being the full time or even the main Commish of the league. I simply don't have the time for it. Between all of the leagues I am already in and already am commish of, massive leagues like the IBL for example, I just really don't have the desire to add more to my fantasy football plate..... especially as my real life gets busier and busier. I was honestly fine with the league folding, if it did. I don't want to see it fold or anything like that but it would have been one league off my plate.

My point? If 90'sbaby pulls a vanishing act or if I feel like I am now running the show as opposed to simply helping out where I can, the league is going to fold.

Sorry to be blunt about it but he has not posted here in quite a while and it already feels like I am in charge of where the league is headed. I just can't allow myself to wind up running another league.

Best "worst case" scenario - I will make sure all of the settings are on auto. No trade approvals needed, draft will kick off on a specified day and time. Nothing will need an active commish. If bylaws are broken (like the use of injured reserve during the draft for example), I will log in as commish and reverse it. Other than that, I'm simply an owner.

Right now the league is going to remain free based on the voting poll and will contract to 12 teams based on the voting poll. The 2 abandonded teams will have their rosters dumped into the player pool to be part of the draft, along with the new crop of rookies.

That's all I can tell you guys for now. I won't be upgrading to 2018 when the time comes because I'm not paying for MFL. Definitely not paying for it myself (I know others have in the past and I appreciate that but I joined a free league and was fine the one year we used Yahoo) and im definitely not collecting money if people want to split the cost. All of that is up to 90sBaby.

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Free agency is a nice trigger for the FF enthusiast/addict. How's everyone doing?

I'm here. I usually don't do anything football related after the SB for the next month or so.

So what are we doing with this? Should I pay the league fee? Who's in who's out?

I really am not going to have time to be an admin of this league. I can manage my team 100% but I can't keep up with everyone else's. Gladly will give 100% ownership to WW as I think he would be an excellent commissioner.

If this isn't going to happen lets get a decision soon because this is the only league I am in and would need to find another.